A Forty-foot Equivalent Unit (FEU) is a standard measure in container shipping that represents the size of a 40-foot shipping container. It’s commonly used to calculate freight capacity, pricing, and terminal volume—just like its counterpart, the TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit).
Here’s what a standard 40-foot container typically measures:
Dimension | Size |
Length | 40 feet (12.19 meters) |
Width | 8 feet (2.44 meters) |
Height | 8.5 feet (2.59 meters) |
Internal Volume | ~67.5 cubic meters |
Tare Weight | ~3,800 kg (varies by model) |
Max Gross Weight | ~30,480 kg |
1 FEU = 2 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units)
Shipping Line Pricing
Most freight rates for FCL (Full Container Load) shipments are quoted per FEU or per 40HQ (40’ High Cube) unit.
Port Statistics
Ports and terminals measure cargo throughput in TEU. One FEU counts as 2 TEU, even if it doesn’t hold exactly twice the volume.
Logistics Planning
FEU helps shippers compare per-unit shipping costs, especially when choosing between 20ft, 40ft, and 40HQ options.
Container Type | Height | Volume |
Standard 40ft | 8'6" | ~67.5 m³ |
40ft High Cube | 9'6" | ~76 m³ |
A 40HQ container is still considered 1 FEU, even though it holds more volume.
You have more than 25–28 CBM of goods to ship
Your cargo is bulky, long, or tall
You want better value per cubic meter than LCL or 20ft options
You’re planning door-to-door FCL shipments from China to major destinations (e.g., USA, UK, EU)